Good morning.
After all the well earned plaudits for Swanselona and Brendan Rodgers (t/a Christ Is Risen plc) it was fantastic to see us play coherently for the third game in a row and look every inch a team that deserves to play Champions League football next season.
Now this next bit won’t surprise some but will infuriate others; but I do hope Arry isn’t waiting for a round of applause from the fans anytime soon for that sumptuous feast?
We’ve just had an entire week of increasing praise for Rodgers and ability to lay on the most amazing football buffet with the most limited resources. Need to stretch a few baked goods and seafood to accommodate some unexpected guests? Need wine, but only got water? Dial 1800 BRENDAN.
All Arry has done is the bleedin’ obvious with extraordinary resources.
After taking a sabbatical from managing Spurs to woo anyone who might listen in the media about his suitability for the England job and then being humiliated at Goodison Park where our travelling fans sang tactical advice to him he’s rejoined the party.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m delighted. And I’m not so mean and nasty as to say, ‘well that’s what he’s paid for’, it’s just his fannying around blew a 10 point lead.
The abandonment of the ailing King and the return to fitness of Billy Gallas has been a blessing. With PNB and Sandro partnered in front of the current back four we look as good as we ever have in years there.
Let’s hit the player ratings then…
7.090That save was literally supersonic. Fingertiptastic. He was spotted off his line a few times but I am convinced that this was just an optical illusion. It never happened. Go back to your homes.
6.665 A mixed bag really. Which is to say he showed promise yet made some really dumb, unforced errors and I thought he was on the way up, not down.
7.379 Hammerfoot himself. A couple of naff passes out but more importantly he’s looking like one heck of a defender. Apologies if the word ‘heck’ is a bit strong, but that’s just how I feel.
7.479 Billy. Bill. The Billster. He’s more of a captain for me than Ledders as you can see he’s a natural communicator, he doesn’t hesitate to communicate, in very natural way.
7.479 Tighter than an Ibis Hotel breakfast buffet. Benny was in great form. Lifted the ball of ’em and immediately looked to feed the boys up-field. Classy.
7.789 The N17 Enforcer. The camera panned on to him ten minutes in. Sweet beading, shirt looked like he’d been hit with grass cannonball yet his hair was immaculate.
7.778 He’s been a busy little bar steward, that Brazilian. I he’s going to be a great player. Big time huge, respected player. He defends endlessly but always looking to flick the ball into an attack.
7.999 A handful of duff balls and relatively low key performance might have misled some that he was poor. In lots of recipes you need the egg that binds. He’s not curate’s egg, he’s more the egg that you can go to work on. Nearly Easter see – you didn’t realise I can fire out the topical ones too, did you?
8.111 He plays on the left. And boy did he ever. What impressed me was he made more of a go of it defensively. And I do like to see everyone pitching in. He was spotted going central a couple of times, but little came of it as usual.
7.333 Blud. Bruv. You get me? Well we didn’t get him until late on but he was a refreshing addition. Super cross. That’s just what Jesus said. Oh yes, I’m firing them out now…
8.902 He’s bloody good you know, we should sign him. The hardest working act in show business today. Bernie Clifton simply calls him, ‘The Daddy’. Actor Ken Loach refers to him as, ‘The Vaartster’.
9.001. Monday I’m in love. Probably could have scored four if he’d have had the kind of unselfish service he gives others. Such an asset. His detractors need to ease up and take in what we’ve got on our hands here.
Brendan Rogers…..Arry’s replacement….slice of lime and a dash of tactics mmm isn’t it isn’t it?
Any one for football?
It is..I am….I think so anyway :hae:
Used condoms for goal posts
I think the term you’re looking for is ‘spent condoms’ …
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091209112436AA098pj
Pipe
Great team at the moment and a fantastic performance yesterday, but lets face facts – we will need significent hardwiring this summer. Friedel will need replacing or at least better cover, Adebayor will not sign as he won´t take the pay cut, Modric will be sold for 50mish. We also need another decent striker because Defoe will go, Saha is destined to be injured for long periods and his contract will expire. Gallas anb¡d King´s contracts expire at the end of the season. Whilst Harry´s prudent short term signings have been fabulous and delivered immediate results, it has created a short term bow wave which will hit us next season and a lot of old players will need replacing. This, with the backdrop of a stadium build, will mean the sale of Modric and Bale to keep the team going.
can’t see levy selling anyone if we grab third,lets enjoy the ride til then
I agree but we just cannot sell Bale. We could need as many as half a dozen players next season and not just occasional squad players either
If we have Lennon in for sandro esp against the likes of Sunderland, we will be in trouble. You will just have parker battling.
Exactly, it’s alright saying that Lennon must start, but if you left out Sandro, we’d be light defensively, and if you left out VdV, we’d be light going forward as it isolates Adebayor (Modric just doesn’t score enough).
I’d start with Sandro and VdV, win the midfield battle, then make changes when needed.
Me too, especailly in the away fixtues where we need to battle it out, stand firm and grind teams down before running them into the ground in the last 20 minutes.
Would settle for the same team for this weekends games.
I absolutely concur…
I absolutely John Moncur
I think Lennon is seriously underrated for his defending – he tracks back, tackles and know’s it’s his job to cover in front of the right back. He even contests more headers than Defoe.
One of the big problems with the ‘Bale freedon experiment’© is that he forgets where he’s meant to be defending or just doesn’t bother.
Lennon helps our shape with the ball and without it.
lennon is a great game changer and always panics the defenders even if his end product is not always fruitful but often what he is going to do is not read properly by our lot. He does do a lot of tracking back and gets in some tasty winning tackles as well.A great spurs player can always be gauged by the crowd reaction when the ball gets to a players feet.
conversley when the ball goes to a J***s type.
oooh that felt funny typing that name out again,get rid of pronto.
I cant see anyone in the EPL loaning us anyone decent if we finish 3rd.
Sunderland have became very physical lately Sandro has to play (if fit).
Agreed Nobby, at this stage please don’t tinker, Harry!
Clattermole to be sent off inside 20 mins?
Have not seen the figures but there are apparently stats out there which state Ade is the best forward in the Premier league based on goals and assists.
When you look at the simplicity of his 2 goals yesterday you have to wonder why we don’t stick crosses on his bonce more often.
Manu has scored 13 and made 11 assists in 27 games. Pretty damn good in my book
What I like best about Abedayor is that he’s a PROPER FOOTBALLER – he has touch, awareness and can pass the ball… (please note, Defoe…)
…and he works his socks off for the team: he seems much more mature than he was when he was with L’Arse or the Sheikhs…
I am genuinely impressed with the bloke and I think there are a lot more goals to come (and not just headers…)